Camping On The Beach – Everything You Need To Know
We take an in depth look at everything there is to consider when camping on the beach. We also note our top beach camping destinations.
Picture this: The sun is settling on the ocean horizon the evening waves crash on the sand. You can smell the salt in the air but eventually, its overpowered by the aroma of the smoke from your campfire. You flip the meat that you are cooking and take a sip of your favorite evening beverage. The long day draws to a close as you prepare to bed down for the night within your beach tent.
This all sounds pretty nice, right? Well, it is. Camping on the beach can be a truly enjoyable experience where old memories are reflected upon and new memories are made. However, there is a lot that goes into camping on the beach and there are a lot of things to consider before you pop up your tent and start a fire on a public beach. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about camping on the beach safely and legally.
What to know about camping on the beach
Legality- Believe it or not, you can’t just drop a tent on any old beach and camp overnight. Sure, you’ll see plenty of canopies and tents on the beach in the daytime that offer refuge from the sun for beach-goers. However, we are talking about overnight camping on the beach and many beaches have rule and regulation regarding this practice. This is typically to control against drifters and homeless people who try to bed down on the beach at night. If you are caught camping on a beach that does not allow overnight sleeping, you may be visited by a police officer who might ask you to vacate the beach.
Allowed structures-Once you’ve answered the question about whether or not you are even allowed to camp on a particular beach, you now have to determine if there are any regulations on the type of structures that you can construct for your overnight housing. Some beaches might only allow you to erect a two-person tent for an overnight stay. This means that your luxury family style tent might not be acceptable for your beach camping adventure. Other beaches may only permit a canopy of some sort. If this is the case then you may not be able to bring a tent on the beach at all.
Fire-If you are planning on camping on the beach, odds are you have been looking forward to a beach fire. Before you go getting yourself fined for starting a fire on a public beach, you need to check to see if the beach in question allows open fires. Some beaches may allow fires but might still have regulations on how large they can be. Don’t go starting a bonfire without doing your research first.
Cooking-So you aren’t interested in a campfire on the beach. Good for you. However, at some point, you are going to get hungry and when that happens you are going to want to cook something. Many beaches have regulations against stoves or hotplates. Be sure to consider your cooking needs before embarking on your camping trip and research the rules and regulations your beach has regarding cooking devices.
Bathroom-At some point during your beach camping expedition, you are going to have to go to the bathroom. It’s ok, it happens. The thing to remember is that you can’t just pop a squat wherever you want. Remember, during the daytime, a beach is a place where people go to hand out, relax and have fun. Well, it’s not going to be much fun if people are constantly having to step over mounds of your poop!
Many beaches that allow overnight camping will often have public restrooms nearby for the campers’ convenience. If your beach doesn’t have a bathroom nearby, you need to check to see what their policy is for human waste. If you see signs that indicate that you are expected to pick up after your animals waste (ie when you are walking your dog) then plan on picking up after yourself if you have to poop while camping. Bring a plastic bag of some sort to “pack it out.”
If you have to urinate at some point in the night, you can always find a secluded group of vegetation to go on. Just know that by going to the bathroom out in the open, you run the risk of someone complaining and calling the cops on you for indecent exposure. Also, we don’t recommend relieving yourself in the ocean because this can open your body up to microscopic organisms that can swim up into you and cause infection. Additionally, you don’t want your feces washing up on the shore for some unsuspecting person to step in.
Garbage-This should go without saying but leaving your trash on the beach or in the ocean is never acceptable. Be sure you are bringing a trash bag to collect all the loose trash you accumulate while camping on the beach.
You can GOOGLE many public beaches and review their own specific rules and regulations regarding all aspects of camping on their particular beach.
Travel-If your beach camping destination requires any sort of travel to reach, specifically, travel on the sand itself, you are going to want to make sure that you have a vehicle that can traverse the sandy walkways. Generally speaking, more remote beaches that you will need to drive to will require you to have some sort of ATV or a vehicle with four-wheel drive so that your want get stuck in the sand while traveling there.
Tides/Water Levels-Your first goal of any camping trip should be to not die. Seriously. You can literally get yourself killed while camping if you are not careful and camping on the beach is no different. You need to be cognizant of the rising tide in relation to your tent. You wouldn’t want to be sleeping soundly when you are suddenly overtaken by a rogue wave. Additionally, you need to be aware of the weather forecast for your camping trip. Seaward storms can blow waves and rainwater landward and these can be unsuspecting threats to sleeping campers. Be sure that you establish your campsite far enough away from the water to allow yourself time to reach if you encounter unwanted water.
Alcohol- We know, you were planning on having a few drinks while enjoying your beach camping trip. However, before you do, you need to check with your beach’s regulations regarding alcohol. Some public beaches have rules regarding open containers and if you are consuming alcohol on a beach that doesn’t allow it, you might find yourself with a hefty fine.
How To Camp On The Beach
How To Erect Your Tent On The Beach –The important thing to remember about camping on the beach and, more specifically, camping on the sand, is that sand is drastically less stable than soil. Sand moves and flows and can even be blown away by the wind. You will need to remember this when you build your tent on the beach. Normal stakes for securing your tent to the ground may not be sufficient to hold your tent in place all night long. Because of the unpredictability of the sand, you might find that your stakes become unearthed over time. For this reason, we recommend bringing some extra long stakes that can reach deep down into the ground. These will add an extra element of support when securing your tent.
In addition to properly securing your tent to the sand, you need to be cognizant of the draft that can come off the ocean. If you have ever been on the beach at night then you are no stranger to the breeze that comes in with the ocean waves. This can be troublesome for your tent, which can act as a sort of wind sail. It is worth investing in a dome-shaped tent that can allow the wind to roll over the structure as opposed to more square-shaped tents that can catch the breeze and potentially blow over in the night.
How to Build Your Beach Campfire-Building your fire on the beach hold a lot of the same problems that erecting your tent holds. Wind is a real problem as is moisture. Moist breezes blowing off the ocean can make it difficult to maintain a flame long enough to light your fire. Additionally, moisture in the air can leave your firewood in a condition that cannot be lit.
When building your beach campfire, you will need to begin by digging a pit to contain the firewood. Did a pit with a diameter of approximately four feet and roughly one foot deep. This depth of the pit will allow you to kick sand over the fire to extinguish it when you are done with it. Next, take some moist or waterlogged pieces of wood or logs and encircle the pit with a wall to contain the flames and burning embers of your beach campfire. These logs will also serve as a barrier against unwanted trash or human feet that might accidentally slide into the fire itself. Once you have properly constructed your fire pit, you are ready to assemble your wood and build your fire. For everything you need to know about building a fire, click our link below.
Best Beaches That Allow Camping
So you’re ready to spend the night camping on the beach. You are in for a real treat. Below are a few of our top picks for beach camping around the US.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park –
Located in California, this is a beautiful state park that features a variety of majestic trees and vegetation, an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean, and miles of coastline. The park itself has two campsites, both of which are hike-in only so no vehicles access will be permitted. You will have to make reservations so be sure to call ahead (800-444-7275).
Cape Lookout National Seashore-Located three miles of the shore of North Carolina lies one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever camp on. Most of the island is only accessible by boat ride (although Harkers Island destination can be reached by vehicle)but its more than worth the trip. Here, you’ll be able to camp, fish, and enjoy a wide variety of wildlife.
The great thing about this location is that all camping within the park is primitive beach camping. This means that there are no designated campgrounds. You can place your tent wherever you see fit, although you must be at least 100 feet from any wells or structures. If camping in a tent isn’t your speed, then you can actually rent a cabin to spend your trip a little more luxuriously.
Campfires can be built below the high tide line and you can use any loose dead wood on the ground for your fire so long as it is within 200 feet of the shore. You can also bring cooking tools like grills and hot plates. Cap Lookout is a must-see for any true beach camper.
Indian Pass-If you are looking for some family fun, camping and fishing, then look no further than Florida’s own Indian Pass Campgrounds. Located on Apalachicola Bay, this campsite accommodates primitive campsites for tents, cabins for the indoor campers, and parking spaces for RV’s. The view is beautiful and the local activities ensure that there is never a dull moment. Be sure to check ahead of time for availability by calling (850) 227-7203.